The present review is a critical analysis of positive and negative reports
of the isolation of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis from soil. The strains is
olated from soil or soil-contaminated material (dogfood, penguin feces) by
Batista et al. in Recife, Brazil, Negroni in the Argentinian Chaco, Alborno
z in rural Venezuela, Silva-Vergara et al, in Ibia, Brazil, Ferreira et al,
in Uberlandia, Brazil, and Gezuele et al. at the Uruguayan base in the Ant
arctic region, presented mycological characteristics consistent with P. bra
siliensis. In most of these studies, morphological characterization was com
plemented with an evaluation of virulence and antigenicity, and biochemical
or molecular analysis. These isolations, therefore, can be considered true
, supporting the concept of soil as an important element in the ecology of
the pathogen. The large number of negative reports in attempts involving so
il samples and the low repeatability of isolation of the fungus from the sa
me area indicate that the specific conditions supporting growth of the path
ogen in soil have not been fully clarified.